Candid (True Images Series) (24 page)

She left me alone then, and I heard her moving around the house for a little while. Then I felt her pulling gently on my shoulders, encouraging me to sit up. “Come on, honey. Sit up and I’ll comb your hair for you.”

I had pretty much decided to go to sleep the way I was – where I was, but she was insistent. She sat behind me on the couch, both of us sideways, and put a pillow behind my lower back. Then she unwound the towel I’d wrapped around my hair and dropped it on the floor. Having the weight gone from my head was nice, and I wished I had taken it off sooner.

My mom took her time combing my hair. She eased the tangles out with her fingers, ran the comb through section by section, then continued to smooth it long after the job was done.

I felt her love for me in every gentle touch and I was transported back to the simple days of childhood. She’d always enjoyed combing my hair when I was a little girl, but I couldn’t remember the last time she had.

“I’m sorry I had to ground you, Sienna.”

I didn’t answer because I didn’t know what to say. I still disagreed with her about it, but I wasn’t surprised that she was sticking to her guns. She’d always been afraid of spoiling me since she was a single mom and I was her only child. We were so close in age and so on our own that it would have been easy to do. I never doubted that she loved me. It was just too bad that she’d had so many hard knocks in life. She seemed determined to spare me from all of them.

 “Mom, did you love my dad? You know, at first?”

She didn’t answer right away. “I thought I did. Who knows, our feelings might have developed into love if we’d made different decisions. I think he was too selfish for love though. That’s how you know you really love someone – when you think more about the other person than you do of yourself. I didn’t learn that until I had you.”

I thought about this for a while. She’d certainly never been selfish. I couldn’t imagine what she must have gone through to give me the life I had. She’d only been a few months older than me when she’d had the responsibility of another life to worry about. Then I realized something else – a thought that shook me with a deep sympathy.

“You’ve never had a real relationship with anyone, have you? I mean, with a man.”

“No, I never have. I’m not sure why. I dated some when you were little, when I could find a babysitter I trusted – and a man I trusted. Nothing ever came of it though. I just decided that you were enough.”

“But I’m not anymore.” I was speaking out loud, feeling out the truth of what I’d just said. My mom must have mistaken my reaction to the idea.

“Oh, Sienna, darling, I promise that no one will ever be more important to me than you.”

I swiveled around on the couch to face her. “I’m not worried about it mom. You deserve to find someone who’s every bit as important to you as I am. I want you to. I won’t be here forever, you know, and you deserve to be really loved by someone.
And to love them too.”

“So, you wouldn’t mind if I felt that way about Alex?”

“Honestly, Mom, I really hope you do. I want you to be happy.”

“I am happy. I always have been. But you’re right. I could be happier.”

“Well, now that it’s all out in the open, why don’t we have him over for dinner or something?”

Her eyes narrowed at me, but I could tell she was amused. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that he thinks I should let you date Lee, does it?”

“He does?
Awesome.
I always knew he was cool.”

 “I’ll bet. Hey, your cheeks look a little flushed.” She pressed her cool palm to them and then to my forehead. “I think you’re getting a fever. Come on, young lady. Let’s get you into bed. I think you’re getting sick.”

I’d gradually been coming to the same conclusion, so I didn’t argue.

Mom followed me to my room and tucked me in. My sheets were cold and I started to shiver again. I wish she’d just let me stay on the couch.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” she said as she turned on the lamp next to my bed and switched off the overhead light.

She came back in with a rice bag that she’d warmed up in the microwave. She tucked it in next to me under the covers and smoothed my wet hair up and over my pillow so that it didn’t lie against my neck and back anymore. “Call me if you need anything. I love you, sweetie.”

I nodded my head. The warmth of the rice bag was easing me into the oblivion of sleep.

My lamp clicked off and a moment later the door slowly closed on the light coming from the hall until it was gone and I could drift away.

Chapter 16

By the next morning, there was no doubt about it. I was sick. I had a pounding headache that refused to go completely away -no matter what kind of pain reliever I took. My fever rose and receded throughout the day, depending on when I’d last taken medicine. Body aches and chills confirmed my mom’s diagnosis. I had the flu.

Since I couldn’t go anywhere anyway, I figured it didn’t much matter. My mom made me stay in bed all day. The only entertainment I had was working on my photos from the game the night before.

If only I could have found my phone so that I could text Lee, I would have been somewhat content to wallow in my misery. I was pretty sure that I’d left it in Lee’s truck, so I wondered if he’d find a way to get it to me. I was supposed to go home with Marisol last night.

Late in the afternoon, I finally convinced my mom to let me sit in the living room and watch TV. I was trying to decide between a game show and a soap opera – which was all that was on since we didn’t have cable – when the doorbell rang. I admit that I hoped it was Lee, but I wasn’t too disappointed when my mom let Marisol in.

She came over and flopped casually onto the cushion by my feet. “Your mom said you’re sick. What’s up?”

“I guess it’s the flu.”

“Too bad.
I guess I’d better not hang out for too long then.”

“That’s probably a good idea.”

“Oh, hey.
I forgot. This is why I came over.”

She handed me my phone and camera bag. Then, for my mom’s benefit, she said “I guess you forgot it in my car last night.”

“Oh, thanks. I thought I must have.”

My mom was standing nearby in the kitchen, but she called to us then and said, “Girls, I’ll be out in the studio. Marisol, don’t keep Sienna talking too long. She needs to rest if she’s going to get better.”

Even when she was gone, Marisol still leaned closer and spoke almost under her breath. “It’s kind of a good thing you’re sick. See if you can manage to not get better too soon. Word has it that Jordan’s planning to kill you over that picture. Tyson broke up with her before the game yesterday.”

“Well, she’ll have to wait her turn. This flu bug is already kicking my butt.”

“Too bad you weren’t at the dance last night. There was drama all over the place. Julia Hatfield broke up with Caleb too, and before the dance was over, it was pretty clear to everyone that if Tyson and Katie weren’t already a couple, they would be before the weekend was over. Jordan didn’t stay at the dance long, but Caleb stayed till the bitter end. He sulked all night long and tried to start fights with any guy that even smiled at Julia. And of course, she was out to show him that she didn’t care that he’d cheated on her.”

Marisol’s words all came at a rush and it took a minute for my brain to sort out everything she’d said. “Sounds like you had fun.”

“It was awesome. Even though Will would pretty much only dance the slow dances with me. But, that was enough for me.”

“Must be nice.”

“What?”

“Getting to date the guy you like.”

Sympathy flashed across her face. “I’m sorry,
chica
. Want me to talk about something else?”

“It doesn’t
  matter
. I’ll think about it anyway. And now I have a whole month where the only time I’ll get to see him is at school.”

“I know. That’s so harsh. It’s kind of amazing, you know – the way he’s so determined to, like, be your guy even though you can’t do anything fun.”

“Just being in the same room together is fun. But yeah, he’s amazing. This would be easier if he wasn’t.”

“Well, if it’ll make you feel better, you have some messages to read. I’m going to get out of here. I have to get to practice.”

“On a Saturday?”

“Yeah.
We have tournaments starting in just a few weeks. The boys have it worse than we do. They have two practices on Saturdays.
One for conditioning and one for running plays and scrimmaging.”

“Sounds brutal.
I think I’ll lie here and go to sleep.”

But I didn’t sleep until I’d checked my messages. There were some from several friends of mine, including Marisol. The only message I responded to, however, was Lee’s. I let him know I was sick and hoped for a quick response. I didn’t get one, and fell asleep waiting.

Saturday dragged into Sunday. The minutes limped along like an old lady with one shoe on. I finally heard back from Lee, and we texted back and forth. Then Sunday evening he said he had a surprise for me. He refused to tell me what it was, so I had to wait. The waiting made me kind of cranky because it made time pass even more slowly. It was worth it, though.

The living room clock had just ticked over to 6:12 when the doorbell rang. My mom was just as surprised as I was when she saw Lee’s mom standing on the porch in a grey silk gown and a red evening coat.

She was holding a big silver soup pot in front over her with potholders over each handle. Steam escaped from beneath the lid and curled
it’s
way over to me. It smelled good enough to make me hungry. I hadn’t eaten much of anything since yesterday.

“Well, hello,” my mom said to Mrs. Franklin, surprise coloring her voice. “Will you please come in?”

“Oh, thank you.
So sorry to drop by like this on you.
I know you weren’t expecting us, but Lee wanted it to be a surprise. “

At the word “us” I perked up considerably and desperately wished that I’d brushed my teeth recently. Recently as in at least once since I’d gotten sick. I gave up on my hopes to see Lee, however, when Lee’s dad followed her into the room, dressed in a tux and looking very distinguished and out of place in our living room.

“Well it certainly is a surprise,” my mom was saying.
“How nice of you to come by.”
She was trying her best to sound welcoming, but to me she just sounded kind of stunned.

Mrs. Franklin walked straight into the kitchen like she’d been there a dozen times and sat the pot down on the stove. “It wasn’t any problem. Grant and I are on our way to a benefit dinner for the hospital, but we wanted to drop this off first. It’s still plenty hot, so you shouldn’t have to warm it up if you’d like to eat now.”

“Oh? What…what is it?”

“Oh dear, I’m such a scatter-brain. It’s some of my homemade chicken soup. I made it from scratch – even the broth. There’s nothing like real chicken broth and fresh vegetables and herbs to make the perfect chicken soup. Lee loves it and asked me to make some for Sienna. Grant, where’s the rest of the stuff?”

Mr. Franklin had been standing quietly nearby, holding a paper grocery bag and refraining from glancing at the clock too often. “It’s right here, dear. Where would you like it, Ms. Whitfield?”

My mom didn’t have time to answer before Mrs. Franklin was clearing a place for it on the counter. We hadn’t been expecting any company so there were bills, art supplies, and various bottles of medicine for me cluttering the counter. She moved them away like she saw a messy kitchen every day and didn’t know any different. She didn’t even hesitate to move a smelly mason jar filled with grey clouded mineral spirits and the paint brushes that had been left to soak in it.

Unpacking the bag, she handed mom a loaf of French bread, a bag of oranges, and a box of chamomile tea. Leaving my mom to sort these out, she then carried the bag over to me and said, “Here you go, Sienna. Lee wanted you to have this.”

I sat up from my pile of pillows and accepted the bag from her. I reached inside and pulled out a plush Sherpa throw blanket. It was deep brown and looked very luxurious. “Oh
my gosh
! It’s so soft,” I said, running my hands over the blanket.”

“Well, let’s tuck it in around you, shall we?” Mrs. Franklin untied the grosgrain ribbon that held it and shook it out. She tucked it in around me and it was even more gloriously comfortable than I’d thought it could be – instantly warm and just the right weight.

Apparently, I didn’t need to say anything for Mrs. Franklin to know I liked it.
“There now.
Lee will be glad to know you’re using it. Now, just promise me you’ll eat some soup, and we’ll get out of here.”

“I promise,” I told her, sitting up again.

“Good. Now get better and we’ll hope to see you again soon.” She left as quickly as she’d
come
, like a whirlwind, pulling her husband along behind her.

When my mom had shut the door behind them, she stood looking at it for a few seconds before she turned back to me. She started to laugh, and I couldn’t help laughing along with her.

“Well, at least I won’t have to warm up canned soup for you again. I just wonder what she thinks we’ll do with enough soup to feed an army.”

“I don’t know, but she’s so nice.”

“Very.
And a little overwhelming.
But very sweet.”

Just like her son, I thought, snuggling closer into my blanket.

*****

Monday came and I was starting to get better, though I’d started coughing a little. My mom said I needed another day to rest and wouldn’t let me go to school. It was probably the first time ever that I hated having to stay home sick. I wouldn’t get to see Lee. Of course, I would also not have to worry about running into Jordan or Caleb.

Lee texted me while he was at lunch and asked if I wanted anything out of my locker. I knew I had a history test at the end of the week, so I sent him my combination. He said he’d get it to me even though he’d have to send it with somebody that my mom would let in the door. I could feel his frustration through his text though he didn’t mention it.